The Muggletonian exclaimed, and Landless turned upon the forger. "How do you know?" he asked sternly.
"I heard," was the smooth reply.
"I am sorry for it," said Landless grimly, and stood with a sternly thoughtful countenance.
There was a silence in the tobacco house broken by Havisham.
"And now—for time passes and the overseer may come and find us not at our tasks—tell me the day upon which we are to rise, and the place to which all are to resort."
"Both are close at hand," said Landless slowly. "The day is—" he broke off and leaned forward, staring through the dusk.
"What is it?" cried Havisham.
"My eyes met other eyes. There, behind that great crack between the logs!"
The Muggletonian rushed to the door, flung it open, and vanished; the branded man followed. The remaining occupants of the tobacco house started to their feet, and Havisham picked from the floor a pole and broke from it a stout cudgel. Godfrey Landless strode forward into the broad shaft of sunshine that entered through the opened door and met the eavesdropper face to face, as, with either arm in the rude grasp of the fanatics, she crossed the threshold.
The conspirators, recognizing the lady of the manor, were stricken dumb. In the three minutes of dead silence which ensued they saw their plans defeated, their hopes ruined, their cause vanquished, their lives lost. The graceful figure with white scorn in the beautiful face was death come upon them. The shadow fell heavy and cold upon their souls, the very air seemed to darken and grow chill around them.